Sunday, December 26, 2010

Tourist Trains of India

These are akin to five-star hotels on wheels. Operated jointly by Indian Railways and state tourism departments, they are a wonderful way to experience the sights in India without having to worry about the hassles of travel and accommodation. There are four major tourist trains operating in India at present

Palace on Wheels — this train covers important tourist attractions and historical sites in Rajasthan. 

Tour Itinerary
Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days
Destinations Covered : New Delhi >> Jaipur >> Sawai Madhopur - Chittorgarh >> Udaipur >> Jaisalmer >> Jodhpur >> Bharatpur - Agra >> New Delhi

Departure Day : The Palace on Wheels departs on Wednesday

Tariff:
Deluxe Saloon for USD 500 per night on twin sharing basis
Super Deluxe Saloon for USD 670 per person per night


Deccan Odyssey — This luxurious train transports its guests on a weeklong journey through some of the best places in Maharashtra and Goa. 

Tour Itinerary
Duration : 7 Nights / 8 Days
Destinations Covered : Mumbai >> Ratnagiri >> Sindhudurg >> Goa >> Pune >> Aurangabad >> Nashik
Departure Day : Sunday

Tariff for Lean Season
Deluxe cabin for USD 390 on twin sharing basis
Presidential Suite for USD 750 per person per night



Golden Chariot — This train takes travellers on a weeklong journey through Karnataka and Goa. 

Tour Itineraries
Pride of the South
Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days
Destinations Covered: Bangalore  >> Mysore >> Hampi >>  Belur >>  Kabini >>  Badami >>  Goa >>  Bangalore

Departure Day: Monday from Bangalore railway station

Splendor of the South
Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days
Destinations Covered: Bangalore >> Chennai >> Mamallapuram >> Pondicherry >> Tiruchirapalli >> Thanjavur >> Madurai >> Thiruvananthapuram >> Poovar >> Kochi >> Kerala Backwaters 

Departure Day: Monday from Bangalore railway station

Tariff
Pride of the South tour tariff is USD 425 for double occupancy. 
Splendor of the South tour tariff is USD 490 for double occupancy.

The Indian Maharaja – This train takes you from Mumbai to Delhi and vice versa.

Tour Itinerary
Duration : 7 Nights / 8 Days
Destinations Covered : Daulatabad >> Udaipur >> Sawai Madhopur >> Jaipur >> Fatehpur Sikri >> Agra >> New Delhi 
Departure : From Mumbai VT station at 16:00 hours.

Tariff
USD 585 on Twin sharing basis for Silver occupancy and USD 747 for Gold occupancy
For Platinum occupancy, USD 1060 per person per night on twin sharing basis



Maharajas Express – This train moves you at many various places of India.

Classical India
Duration : 6 Nights/7 Days
Destinations Covered : Delhi >> Gwalior >> Orchha >> Umaria >> Varanasi >> Lucknow >> Delhi
Departure : From Delhi on Sundays.

Celestial India
Duration : 7 Night/8 Days
estinations Covered : Delhi >> Agra >> Gwalior >> Orchha >> Umaria >> Varanasi >> Lucknow >> Delhi
Departure : From Delhi on Saturday

Princely India
Duration : 7 Nights/8 Days
Destinations Covered :Mumbai >> Vadodara >> Udaipur >> Jodhpur >> Bikaner >> Jaipur >> Ranthambore >> Agra >> Delhi
Departure : From Mumbai on Saturdays

Royal India
Duration : 6 Nights/7 Days
Destinations Covered : Delhi >> Sawai Madhopur >> Jaipur >> Bikaner >> Jodhpur >> Udaipur >> Vadodara >> Mumbai
Departure: From Delhi on Sundays.

Tariff
Deluxe Cabin USD 800 per day per person twin sharing
Junior Suite USD 900 per day per person twin sharing
Suite USD 1400 per day per person twin sharing
Presidential Suite USD 2500 per day per person twin sharing

Class :
Most countries offer two classes of service, but India has no less than seven to choose from. But note that all seven classes of travel are generally NOT present all together in most trains. In descending order of cost & luxury, they are: 
1. 1st class AC sleeper(1A) (the most luxurious and highly recommended for foreign tourists) 
2. Executive AC Chair Car(1C) 
3. 2-tier AC sleeper (2A) 
4. 3-tier AC sleeper (3A) 
5. AC Chair Car (CC) 
6. Second Class - Sleeper (non - AC) (SL) 
7. Second Class - Seating (non - AC) (2S) (popularly known as "general class") 


But note that all seven classes of travel are generally NOT present together in a single train. For example AC Chair Car and Second Class Seating may be present on a short distance daytime train but sleeper classes (AC & non AC) may not be present in it. For a long disance night train, the reverse is true with the former being present and latter absent. 

Ticketing
Tickets are available from counters at most railway stations as well as directly from Indian Railways' online reservation service www.irctc.co.in  Rail passes are also available, and are called Indrail passes. 

Indian man buying a Chai (Tea with Spices) from a train window.

Two days before the departure date of a train the Tatkal quota seats become available. This allows tourists who like to plan a trip as they go to book seats closer to the day of departure, for an extra fee. Even with this extra quota (about 30% of the seats on a train) it can sometimes be difficult to get the train you want when you want it. 

Meals
Most long distance night trains have a pantry car and if you are in the sleeper or A/C classes, you can buy meals on board the train. The Railways are concerned about the bad quality of pantry car meals and efforts are underway to improve things, but do not count on it as yet. If you are finicky, bring enough food and bottled water for the journey including delays: bananas, bread, and candy bars are good basics to have. At most larger stations hawkers selling tea, peanuts, and snack food and even complete meals will go up and down the train. Most important stations will have vendors selling all kinds of edible stuff, but the usual caveats about eating in India apply. Note that in the most luxurious 'Rajdhani' & 'Shatabdi' trains, meals are included in your ticket price and served AT YOUR SEAT during travel.There are no dining cars in Indian Railways. 



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